Plea deal falls through in Colchester fatal crash

Teen driver was set to change plea in May 2012 wreck that killed 25-year-old woman

May 7, 2013

James Companion, 17, of St. Albans, the teenager whom the state says drove drunk and crashed a car and killed passenger Tasha Maring, 25, a year ago in Colchester, sits through was was to be a change of plea. Instead, both his defense lawyer and the state walked out of Superior Court in Burlington Tuesday with more work to do. / RYAN MERCER/FREE PRESS

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Free Press Staff Writer

A proposed plea deal has fallen through between prosecutors and James Companion, the teenager whom the state says drove drunk and crashed a car, killing the passenger, a year ago in Colchester.

During a change-of-plea hearing Tuesday in Vermont Superior Court in Burlington, Deputy Chittenden County State’s Attorney Andrew Strauss said the victim’s family had withdrawn support for the proposed deal.

“We’re very close, judge,” Strauss said told Judge Brian Grearson.

Companion, 17, of St. Albans previously pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence with death .

Strauss said last week that his office proposed sending the defendant to prison for three years, but the two sides had not agreed to a sentence.

A conviction of driving under the influence resulting in death carries a maximum prison sentence of 15 years.

Grearson scheduled a second change-of-plea hearing for May 21. Companion’s court-appointed attorney, Sarah Reed, said she expected the court to order a pre-sentencing investigation once a deal is reached.

Companion pleaded not guilty last May to driving under the influence resulting in the death of his friend Tasha Maring, 25, of Colchester.

Colchester police said Companion and Maring left a party the night of May 25 to pick up cigarettes. On the way back to the party, Companion crashed into a telephone pole on Bay Road in Colchester, and the car caught fire, according to police. Maring was trapped inside the wreckage and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Prosecutors have also charged Companion’s mother in connection with the crash, saying she bought her son vodka that day.

Melissa Grant, 44, of St. Albans pleaded not guilty in June to buying alcohol for a minor. If convicted, Grant would face up to five years in prison.